Off-Line a few days...

because of some changes at Greenberry House. Will update when I can!

Seen on a sunny morning...

Rose of Sharon


A web shimmering with dew


My favorite wildflower, Queen Anne's Lace


Ripening Blackberries


Wild Rose


The cool shade near the little stream

Summer weeks...fly past!

Morning Walk (click any photo to enlarge)

Summer days, bright sunshine, occasional thunderstorms and time filled with activity. This week has been one of meetings and pleasant outings; time spent away from the farm but necessary. Every morning lately I've been taking Lily for a walk. Her favorite stroll these days is along the woods by the corn maze. Malachi, our resident black cat, has moved down to the old grainery and spends most of his time around the corn maze. He comes along on our walks, darting into the stand of corn that is growing taller and playing hide and seek.


Slipping through the corn


And back out to visit with us!


Lily inside the maze

The design has been cut into the corn field; from my window I can see the curve of the banjo head and the crooks of the road. I took Lily a little way into the field for a photo; she had a bath yesterday morning and looks all curly.

It was a lovely morning, with barn swallows darting above us, bumble bees tumbling over red clover in the field and light clouds scattered over the sky. A breeze whispered through the corn stalks.


Painted Yarn

I filled a crock pot on Wednesday with yarn and dye, searching for a combination that would suggest rhododendrons. I left it to simmer and went off on a fibery adventure with Sandra and Linda. We had a splendid day; there's nothing like fiber fun with special friends. When I came back I found that the purple had mutated into lovely shades, but none of them suggest rhododendron. I like the yarn, anyway!


50% merino/50% Angora Mill Spun Yarn

I went down to visit with Mom and Wendell yesterday evening. Mom was away, checking on her aunt in Stuart, and so I sat down to talk to Wendell for a little while. Soon we heard my uncle calling from the basement; Wendell went down and then I heard him calling. An unwelcome visitor was slipping along the floor joists. I thought he was beautiful but the fellows didn't agree. So we caught him and I put him in a bag to bring home. I didn't think to take a picture of him but here's one from the Ohio History Central Encyclopedia site. (Spoiler: if you don't like snakes don't go there.) I turned him loose down by the grainery, since he seemed to like buildings!


Two Ply Coopworth Yarn, Natural Color

I spent the evenings this week plying the Coopworth singles I've been spinning at the craft tent. This is the last of this lovely fleece; I've really enjoyed the silvery colors and easy spinning of this roving. I should finish this up tonight and then it will be time to start something new!

M is for ....

Matrimony

Saturday I performed a lovely wedding ceremony, with vows written by the couple and surrounded by their closest family and friends. I've known the groom a long time; as a wonderful friend he has been part of some of the best experiences of my life. The bride is a lovely treasure that has enriched his life and I think this marriage will be a blessing to all.


Mushroom (or Toadstool; I never know the difference)

A drive up the Parkway on Sunday was lovely; the rhododendron are blooming wildly along the road and it was a cool, breezy day. I spent the morning at the craft tent, spinning up silver Coopworth, then headed out for some necessary errands. In the evening I wound yarn into skeins. Today I really need to start cleaning this house, but I really want to put more fiber up on my web page. I've got yarn soaking, too, with visions of rhododendron flower colors dancing in my head!

Saturday Sky

Saturday Sky, Blue Ridge Mountains

I've been trying not to yield to temptation, but the sky this morning was just too gorgeous to resist. So here's to Sandy and her Saturday Sky web ring, which I just joined. Another beautiful ring to wander!

Quiet morning here; I have a wedding this afternoon so I'm just taking care of odds and ends. Lily and I went for a long walk along the edge of the field. She has been a little fussy lately, and I think it's because she wants some time away from TJ. So I've been talking her out by herself, and she really enjoys wandering along with me. Our black cat came out of the woods and followed us along the edge of the corn maze field, tail upright and purring loudly.

The dye pots have been bubbling. I'm enjoying the new yarn from Still River; take a look over at the Fiber Femmes blog to see how the first skeins turned out!

Since the Rainbows

Crafts in the Meadows

It has been a colorful time! Busy times getting ready for a craft festival in the field over the holiday weekend, involving lots of dyeing and winding yarn. Good times, nice folks and great conversations. I met my new neighbors, young people that I think will be quite an asset to the area! Blue, white and yellow tents in the fields, alpacas, jewelry, colorful fabric and yarn to attract attention.


Yarn Display

I did some more remodeling of my booth space, and was particularly happy with my new yarn display. JAG's mother gave me a screen door, and I used it to hang rows of yarn, mostly handspun at the moment. The picture is too yellow; thanks to being under the tent, but you can get the idea!


Millspun Yarn!

My shipment of yarn came in on Thursday last week, from Still River Mill, and I'm very happy with their work! This was a blend of the Angora from my Germans and a lovely merino fleece from Thistle Cove Farm. I washed some up for the weekend and it is very soft; I'll be doing a lot of dyeing in the next couple of weeks!


Gifted

A local spinner has been coming to visit me at the craft tent occasionally, and I've really enjoyed her company and talking to her. This weekend she presented me with this lovely ball of roving. Someone had given it to Goodwill and it was passed along to her. The color is wonderful, deep blue in some lights and purple in others. We don't know what the fiber is, some sort of soft wool but I'm going to enjoy working with it. Right now I'm finishing up some Coopworth that I had processed awhile back; time it was used!

The rest of the holiday was spent in visiting friends up north and catching up with their news. I'm glad to be home, with a snoozing spaniel by my feet and my spinning wheel to hand! I did manage to get the Fiber Femmes magazine up by the July 1 deadline. There are some terrific articles; some neat patterns, a great interview with a special Fiber Femme and some good informational pieces. Y'all go take a look!